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Proof Coin - 1/4 Piastre, Cyprus, 1879Reg. No: NU 12377

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Summary:

1/4 Piastre, Issued by, Cyprus, 1879Minted by Royal Mint, London

Statement Of Significance:

Government of Cyprus was ceded by the Ottoman Empire to Britain by the Anglo-Turkish Convention of 4 June 1878 by which Turkey received an annual payment equal to what it would have received in taxation. The coinage of the island was based on the Turkish copper piastre and the British elected to continue this system, introducing bronze coins of 1 piastre , 1/2 piastre and 1/4 piarstre in 1879. All coins featured a head of Queen Victoria.

This bronzed proof is from the collection formed at the Sydney Mint and isbelieved to have been part of their display at the Sydney International Exhibition 1879-1880. When the Mint was closed in 1926 this was one of many coins purchased by the prominent Melbourne collector Dr. William Howat with the intention of placing them in the State collection. He donated it to the National Gallery of Victoria in 1926 and it was transferred to Museum Victoria ( then the Science Museum of Victoria) in 1976.

Acquisition Information:

Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Discipline:

Numismatics

Dimensions:

21.8 mm (Diameter)

Weight:

2.909 g (Weight)

More information

Tagged with:

exhibitions sydney international 1879-1880, british empire coins, british commonwealth and empire coins

Themes this item is part of:

Royal Mint, Medal Makers, Sydney, New South Wales, Royal Mint, London, Branch Mints of the Royal Mint, Royal Mint, Tower Hill, 1809-1975, Early History of London Mints, to 1300, The Royal Mint, Leonard Charles Wyon, Engraver (1826-1891), Numismatics & Philately Collection, Public Life & Institutions Collection

Primary Classification:

COINS

Secondary Classification:

Cyprus

Tertiary Classification:

proof strikes

Series:

Pre-decimal

DateEra:

1879 AD

Denomination:

1/4 Piastre

Obverse Description:

Head of Queen Victoria facing left wearing coronet which is ornamented with oak leaves and acorns; around, VICTORIA QUEEN 1879